Holidays and traditions
Come and celebrate with us!
At Kulturen, many of the year's major holidays and traditions are celebrated. Easter, Sweden's National Day, Midsummer, and of course our Christmas fair – a Lund tradition since 1966!
Easter
We celebrate Easter with activities for children and families, including Easter crafts, games, and guided visits. Visitors can discover both Christian and folk Easter traditions in a fun and engaging way. During the Easter holidays, we explain why Easter is celebrated and present an Easter exhibition.
On Maundy Thursday, the museum park fills with Easter witches and Easter characters. Visitors can take part in traditional Easter games, blow soap bubbles, make Easter crafts, and join the grand flight to Blåkulla, the legendary destination of Swedish Easter folklore.
Sweden’s National Day
The official National Day celebration of Lund Municipality is held every year at Kulturen in Lund, with free admission to the museum throughout the day. The celebration features music, choir performances, and a flag-raising ceremony set among historic buildings and environments. Visitors can also explore the museum’s exhibitions or enjoy a picnic in the lush museum park.
Midsummer Celebrations
Traditional Midsummer celebrations are held both at Kulturen in Lund and Kulturen's Östarp, featuring dancing around the maypole, folk dancing, and music in historic settings.
At Kulturen's Östarp, visitors can help decorate the maypole, explore Gamlegård, the historic half-timbered farmhouse, and meet the farm’s heritage-breed animals. The celebrations also offer an opportunity to learn more about Swedish Midsummer traditions.
In recent years, we have also celebrated Midsummer Day, with a programme aimed primarily at international visitors.
All Saints’ Weekend and Halloween
During the autumn school holidays, Kulturen is filled with spooky experiences and activities for the whole family. The programme typically includes Halloween crafts, eerie guided tours, stories, and local legends. The holiday programme also offers opportunities to learn about the traditions associated with Halloween and All Saints’ Weekend.
Christmas Festivities and Christmas Fair
Ahead of the first Sunday of Advent, Kulturen hosts its traditional Christmas festivities and Christmas Fair in the historic open-air museum.
Visitors can experience how Christmas was celebrated in the past, with seasonal traditions from different historical periods brought to life in the museum’s historic buildings. The Christmas market offers handicrafts, gifts, food, and festive treats, while Christmas music, Lucia processions, and activities for children help create a magical holiday atmosphere. Visitors can also enjoy mulled wine, food, and traditional Swedish fika.
Lucia Celebrations
Over three days, we host atmospheric Lucia concerts featuring the choir Bella Voce – Lund University Women’s Choir, performing beautiful and well-loved Christmas songs.
The concerts take place in our beautiful Bosebo Church, a wooden church originally from Bosebo in Småland, built in 1652. The church contains a remarkably well-preserved late eighteenth-century interior, including decorative paintings, woodwork, and a fully functioning pipe organ.
School Holidays
During school holidays, we offer a wide range of activities for children and families, including storytelling sessions, creative workshops, and presentations explaining the origins and traditions of the various Swedish holidays and celebrations.
